“He can do more than that – his two goals [against Liverpool] were from open play,” said the Villa boss. “The second one was obviously a towering header but the first one he gets himself in the six-yard box to tap it in.

“I like to see strikers doing that. It shows that eagerness to get between the widths of the posts and put the ball in the net, so hopefully he can deliver a few more for us.”

League

Team

Season

Goals

Goals MINS

Total Shots MINS

Shooting Accuracy

Scoring V Shooting Accuracy

Big Chances Missed

Headers Won MINS

Header Success

Appearances

Mins Played

Rudy Gestede

Aston Villa

2015-2016

3

130.67

21.78

28%

17%

1

8.52

56%

7

392

Rudy Gestede

Blackburn

2014-2015

20

135.25

22.54

36%

17%

14

7.53

59%

39

2,705

Christian Benteke

Aston Villa

2014-2015

13

183.08

29.75

36%

16%

7

12.66

55%

29

2,380

With the similarly physical Christian Benteke departing for Liverpool in the summer, Sherwood is now relying on Gestede to take up the goalscoring burden as the new focal point of his side’s attack.

Nevertheless, despite his impressive Championship strike-record, the French-born Benin international’s previous failure to make the grade at the Premier League level during his time at Cardiff City has some sceptical about whether he will be able to offer Villa the desired impact in the long run.

Sherwood has no concerns about the ex-Bluebird’s top-flight talent, though, and is backing him to prove the doubters wrong, adding: "It is a big step up but I believe he can do it. He has the belief of his manager.

“I think he's got the belief of the supporters too and he's showing that. He's scored three goals in the Premier League which is a very good return. Hopefully he'll get some more.”

Freddie Shires

Freddie is a freelance sports writer, having recently completed an MA in Sports Journalism at St. Mary’s University, Twickenham. With an especially keen interest in all things American sports-related, he has written extensively about the NFL, MLS and the U.S. national team for various sites.